Uwe Gemballa, Porsche Tuner, Found Dead in South Africa

UPDATE: Thabiso Mpshe has been arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering Gemballa.

Uwe Gemballa, the CEO of Porsche aftermarket tuning company Gemballa and the man who would take something as beautiful as the Carrera GT and cover it in gold accents without thinking twice, was found dead Saturday in South Africa.

Gemballa went missing earlier this year in February after heading to South Africa on a business trip. South Africa’s Sunday Times is reporting Gemballa was shot in the back of the head, leading many to speculate he was executed. And that’s not a bad theory, as Gemballa’s business practices of late have definitely been on the seedy side.

Following Gemballa’s disappearance came reports the company had been unable to pay its employees. The lack of funds could be what prompted Gemballa’s garage to file for bankruptcy. The CEO then gave sole power of attorney to his wife and set up a second corporation, with his 79-year-old mother named as its sole stock holder.

But wait, there’s more! According to German news outlet stern.de, Gemballa’s February trip to South Africa was to seek out investment partners for this second business outfit held by Mama Gemballa. And who was one of the potential financiers? None other than…

Radovan Krejcir! (I know, can you believe it?!?!)

Krejcir, an organized crime boss who operates out of South Africa and a fugitive of Czechoslovakia, was working with Gemballa, according to a sworn statement from former Krejcir business partner Juan Meyer. And Meyer is none too surprised Gemballa was found dead.

“I was expecting he would be found dead,” he told the Sunday Times. “With the powerful people involved in this thing, I don’t think anyone thought he would still be alive.”

Gemballa’s shop closed earlier in the year after 30 years in business, but current employees are attempting to revive the storied tuner.

The Times goes on to say the discovery of Gemballa’s body has the potential to expose a worldwide money laundering scheme covering multiple countries. All we can conclude is: This whole story is very, very, very SHAAADYYYY.